Fridley plant's cleanup gets $500,000 boost from Minnesota

A Fridley redevelopment project was among seven statewide awarded grants by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development recently aimed at cleaning up blighted properties.

The Fridley Housing and Redevelopment Authority got $500,000 of the $2.7 million in state money funneled toward cleanup efforts.

It will help pay for the cleanup and eventual demolition of the former Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant that has been a fixture in the inner-ring suburb since World War II.

Solvents used to manufacture guns in the building contaminated the soil.

The 122-acre parcel south of Interstate 694 was purchased in July by Hyde Development with plans to turn the polluted land in to a $140 million sprawling business campus over the next five to seven years.

"It's exciting to get the money and see this project move forward," said Paul Bolin, assistant executive director to Fridley's HRA.

The project is to be developed in four phases. The first phase is primarily focused on soil cleanup and the construction of one or two of the 12 mixed-use buildings expected by full build out, which will include offices, office warehouses and manufacturing.

The project will replace the giant 2 million-square-foot plant scheduled to be demolished a few years from now, Bolin said.

Soil boring on the site is already underway and construction is expected to start next spring, according to Scott Hickok, the city's community development director.

The first building is slated for completion next fall.

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The $500,000 from DEED is just the start of the funding the city and Hyde hope to secure in grant money to help pay for infrastructure, cleanup and other costs associated with the development, Bolin said.

The developer reportedly plans to lease out the buildings. No potential tenants have been named, Bolin said.

The Fridley project was one of our in the metro-area to receive a grant. The St. Paul Port Authority, the city of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Public School Education Service Center also received funding for various cleanup and demolition projects.

The 2013 Legislature appropriated $6 million from the general fund for the Redevelopment Grant Program.